Vending machine



P. R. HooPEs ET AL 1,707,722

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 2o, 192'? 3 sheets-sheer 1 April 2, 1929.

plil 2, 1929- P. R. HooPEs Er AL A A 1,707,722

VENDIENG CHINE Filed April 20, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 2, 1929- 4 P. R. HooPEs' ET Az. 1,707,722

VENDING MACHINE s sheets-sneer 3 Filed April 20, 192'? Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,101,722 PATENT; OFFICE.

PENROSE R, HOOPES AND FRITZ HESS, F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT; SAID HESS lAS- SIGNOR TO SAID HOOPES.

VEN DING MACHINE Application led April-20,

The present invention relates to an apparatus for vending or dispensing articles Vof merchandise, such as rolls or bars of candy or other confections.

The aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this sort having various features of novelty and advantage.

More particularly, the object of the invention is to provide a simple, economic and effective apparatus of this sort wherein the articles to be dispensed or vended are supported in a magazine or carrier in such manner that they may be positively brought into registry With an opening without danger of the articles interfering With the proper operation of the device. Our improved arrangement is such that the magazine can be moved but one step a time, and the .magazine cannot be raised or lowered except by operating the controlling mechanism in the ,proper manner.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangementof parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of Which will be indicatedin the appended claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings, Whereinwe have shown, for illustrative purposes, ,one enibodiment which the present invention may take, it being understood that thisdisclosure is by Way of illustration only and that our invention is susceptible of various modifications and changes:

vFigure 1 is a front elevational view with one side of the apparatus broken away-along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinallvand centrally through the apparatus;

F ig. 3 is a front View of the cams for operating the slides which control the magazine 3f is a side View of the male cam;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 isa view similar to Fig. 4 but taken on line 5-5 of F ig.l 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantial'- ly on line 6 6 of Fig. 5 and shows one of the controlling slides inretracted or locking position;

- hereinafter described 1927. serial No. 185,257.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the slide advanced so as to permit the magazineto move down one step; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on line 8`-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, l0 designates an upright casing of any suitable shape and construction. This casing is illustrated as having a front cover 11 hinged at the top, as at 12. This cover may carry, adjacent its lower end, a lock 13 of any suitable sort. The cover may have an opening .14 ythrough which access may be had to the articles toY be dispensed. Preferably, the edge of this opening is flanged, as at- 15, so as to provide a smooth-edge and thus avoid injury to the person taking the ymerchandise from the casing. This opening 14 is located substantially midway between the upper and lower ends ofthe casing. VImmediately aboveV the opening 14 is a sight opening 16 into registry with which a sign 17 is adapted to be brought when the magazine has been brought to its lowermost position. This sign carries the Word Empty so as to advise anyone contemplating loperating the device that the articles to be dispensed have been depleted. The cover further carries a bearing member 18 in which is ournalled theshaft or shank of the male cam for operating the device, as

more in detail.

At each side ofthe casing are a pair of slots or grooves 20 which may be formed in any suitable manner, as by means of strips 21 suitably secured to the side Walls of the casing.

Mounted for vertical movement Within the casing and guided in part by the grooves 20 is a magazine having superimposed compartments formed by spaced apart shelves 25. These shelves may be formed in any suitable manner, but theyfare here shown as being constructed of sheets of metal with their edges down-turned so as to form flanges 26. The shelves 25 are fixed to a member preferably formed of sheet met-al and having a backV 27 and side Walls 28, 28. The magazine in horizontal section corresponds generally in shape to the casing, except that it is narrower so as to titin between the guide strips 21. The shelves are riveted to the side -Walls28 by means of pins 29, these pins having heads 30 Which engage in the grooves20 so that the magazine is properlyguided in its vertical .movements On the top of the magazine is the Empty sign 17. The distance between the loweredge of the flange 26 of one shelf vand the top ot the next snbjacent shelf is `at least as great as the height of the opening 14 so that, in any position ot the magazine1 ac- .can be had to but that compartment which is in registry with the opening 14. Ubviously, the magazine may be provided with any desired number oit compartments and, while I have shown but three such compartments in the present illustrative disclosure, in actual practice more than three can be used to advantage. The height of the casing is substantially twice the height of the magazine minus the height of one compartment so that when the iowermost com partment is in registry with the opening 14, the upper end or' the magazine is adjacent the top ot' the casing and, when the uppermost compartment is in registry with the opening 14, the lower end of the magazine is adjacent the bottom of the casing.

Movement ot the magazine is controlled by one or more slides located between the mag- Y azine and the side walls of the casing and in the planes oitV the guide grooves 20. ln the present illustrative disclosure, I have shown two such slides, one at each side of the magy azine and suitably connected together so as to be moved in unison. A description ot" one ot these slides is applicable to the other;-

Vhe slides, indicated generally'by the letter A, are supported for sliding movement on hlocl s31 suitably'secured to the side walls ot the casing, and tl e forward vertical guid- Ving members 21 are cut away, as shown most clearly in Figs. and 6, so as to accommodate these slides. The rear ends 32 of the slides are adapted to abut against the rear guide strips 21 when the slides are in the locking position shown in Figs. 2.and 6. Each slide has, adjacent its forward end and on its inner i'ace. a groove, 33 inclined downwardly and iliorwardly, the reary wall 34 of each of these grooves being preferably smooth, and the forward wall 35 being serrated or stepped so as to form downwardly 'facing abutments 3G.

' The grooves 33 are of such de 3th that the heads 30 of the pins associated with the two lower shelves may pass through the grooves, but the pins associated. with the shelf torming the Vbottom of the upper con'lpartment cannot pass through these grooves. Thus, aflter the uppermost compartment has been brought into 'registry with the opening 14, 'Further downward movement of the magazine, upon operation of the slides, is avoided. The grooves in the forward guide strips and immediately above and below the slide are flared.v as at 37, so as to insure against the pinsl catching on shoulders when the apparatus is properly operated. Each of the slides is further provided, rearwardly of the grooves with relatively wide vertical grooves 40, the purpose oic these grooves 4() being to permit the magazine 'to be manually raised after .the cover 11 has been swung up date these springs.'

The forward endsof the slides are connected together by a spider 45 having central hub 46 having an internal cam surface or partial thread 47. Adapted to cooperate with this cam surface is a complementary male cam 48 carried by a shank 49 ournalled in the bearing member 18 carried by the cover 11. `Fixed to the Vouter end orP the shank 49 is an operating knob 50. By preference, the bearing member 18 has a eylindrical shirt 51 in which the hub 46'has a sliding bearing. This skirt may be cut away as at 52 so as to accommodate the arms or the spidei'vflien the slides are moved to the advanced position shown in Fig. 7.

Obviously, the apparatus may be provided with a check or coin controlled device so associated with the operating mechanism that this mechanism cannot be operated to permit the magazine to dropdown one step until after a coin otthe proper denomination has been inserted into the checlr controlled device.

The operation of the apparatus is briefly as follows: Assuming that'the magazine has been iilled and fis in its uppermost position,

" the lowermost pins will rest upon the slides by turning thelrnob 50 thereby causing,r

through the cams 47 and 48, the slides to move forwardly to the position shown in Fig. T and in which position the lowermost pins enter the grooves 33. After the pins enter these grooves, the springs 41 move the slides to the retracted position shown in Fig. G so that the pins, which have been engaged in the grooves 33, may move to the position shown in Fig. 6. As the slides are thus retracte l, he lower ends of the forward grooves 2O are blanlred by the slides so that the magazine can move downwardly but one step at a time. It will further be noted that, owing to Lthe serrated forward walls ot the grooves 33, the zine cannot beraised without lirst r-en'ioving the cover 11.V and then manually pullingv the slides forwardly sothat the grooves thereof register with the forward grooves 2t). To cause the magazine to move. down another step, so that the uppermost compartment in registry with the opening 14, the knob Ywir/f. ma f is given another turn. Thereafter, although the knob may be further operated, the magazine will not move down any urther'because the pins associated with the bottom of the upper compartment are toolong to enter the grooves 33. After the magazine has been depleted, it may be raised by swinging up the cover l1 and pulling forwardly on the slides unt-il the grooves register with the front grooves 20.

' IVe claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing provided with an opening,

Cil

a gravity magazine. therein having superimposed compartments arranged to be brought successively into registry with said opening,

a slide for controlling the movement of saidv magazine and arranged upon each operation thereof to limit the movement oit said magazine, means for operating said slide and positive means for preventing reverse movement of said magazine.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing provided with an opening, a magazine therein having superimposed compartments arranged 'to be brought` successively into registry with said opening, a slide for controlling the movement of said magazine and arranged upon each operation thereoi to limit the movement of said magazine to the height ot' one compartment, said operable slide normally preventing movement of said magazine in all directions, and means for operating said slide.

3. In an apparatus of the'character described, a casing provided with an opening between its ends, a. magazine therein adapted to be fed down by gravity and having superimposed compartments arranged to be brought successively into registry with said opening, a slide movable at right angles to said magazine for controlling the movement of said magazine and arranged upon each operation thereo'tto limit the extent of movement of the magazine, said slide having means for preventing the magazine from being moved upwardly, and means for operating said slide.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing provided with an opening between its ends, a magazine within the casing having a plurality of superimposed compart-ments, said magazine having vertically spaced apart projections, a slide adapted to cooperate with said projections to hold said magazine in predetermined positions, said slide having an inclined slot through which the projections are adapted to move upon operation of the slide, and means for moving said slide.

5. In an apparatus oit the character described, a vertical casing, a magazine therein having a plurality of superimposed compartments, a slide tor controlling the movement of said magazine and having an inclined groove, vertical spaced apart projections on said magazine yand arranged to rest upon the top of said slide when the latter is in normal position, and means for operating said slide to bring the upper end of said groove into registry with the line of movement of said projections, said slide being movable towards normal position after a projection has entered the groove thereof.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having an opening, a magazine therein having a plurality of superimposed compartments, vertically spaced apart projections on said magazine, a slide between said magazine and casing andhaving an in-y clined groove, means for advancing the slide to bring the upper end ofsaid groove into registry with the line of movement of said projections, and means for retracting said slide to normal position, said slide being substantially as high as the distance between said projections, one of said projections being of such length as to be unable to pass through said groove whereby to hold the uppermost compartment in registry with said opening, the projections beneath said mentioned projection being of such length as to pass through said groove on proper operation of said slide.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a vertical casing having an opening between its ends, a magazine withinvsaid casing having a plurality of superimposed compartments arranged to be successively brought into registry with said opening, a slide between said casing and magazine and having an inclined groove the forward wall of which is serrated to provide downwardly facing abutments, projectionson said magazine adapted to pass downwardly through said groove when the slide is operated, and means for operating said slide.

8. In an apparatus `of the character described, a vertical casing provided with an opening between its ends, a magazine within said casing having a plurality of superimposed compartments adapted to `be successively brought into registry with said opening, a slide mounted between said casing and magazine and having a downwardly and forwardly inclined groove the forward wall of which is serrated, said slide also having a vertical groove rearwardly of said inclined groove, projections on said magazine adapted to pass through said inclined groove when the latter is operated, said magazine also having a projection arranged not to pass through said inclined groove whereby said slide will hold said magazine against further downward movement after the uppermost compartment has been broughtinto registry with said opening, and means for operating said slide.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a vertical casing provided in its front wall and between its ends with an opening, a Amagazine within said casing and having superimposed compartments arranged to be brought successively into registry with said opening, vguide grooves in the sides of said casing, vertically spaced apart projections p on said magazine engaging in said grooves, a slide intercepting one of said grooves and having an inclined groove the upper end of which is adapted to be brought into registry with the intercepted slide groove, means tor moving said slide forwardly, and spring means for retracting said slide.l

l0. In an apparatus of the character described, a vertical casing having an opening in its front wall and between its ends, a gravity magazine mounted therein and having a plurality or' superimposed compartments, a horizontally movable slide lor controlling` the movement of said magazine, a spiral cam less than 180O associated with said slide, an operating cam con'iplementary to said first cani and adapted to cooperate therewith to advance said slide, and means for normally urging said slide to retracted position. n Y 11. ln an apparatus ot the character described, a casing provided with an opening in its front wall and between its ends, a grav- Y ity magazine in said casing Vhaving superimposed compartments arranged to be successively brought into regi 'try with said opening, a pair of slides one at each side oli said magazine and arranged to control the movementor' said magazine, means for connecting said slides together, and means for oj erating said slides.

' 12.*In anapparatus of the-character described, a casing provided with an opening between its ends, a magazine within said casying having a plurality of superimposed compartments adapted to be Vbrought successively into registry with said opening, said magazine having at each side a vertical row of spaced apart projections, a pair of slides one to each side of said magazine, each ot' said slideshaving an inclined slot adapted to be broughtinto registry with the respective lines of movement of said projections, and means for operating said slides in unison. Y

13. Inan apparatus of the character described, a vertical casing, a magazine therein having a plurality of superimposedlcompart- Vmeans normally urging said slides to retracted position. i Y

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing provided in its front wall and between its ends with an opening, a gravity magazine within said casing having a plurality of superimposed compartments arranged to be brought successively into registry with said opening, said magazine having at each side a'vertieal row o'l' spaced apart projections, a pair of slides one at each side of said magazine, said slides having forwardly and downwardly inclined grooves the forva rd walls ol which areserrated, said grooves and projections beingA so arranged that the projections which position all but the upperinost compartment in registry with said opening may pass through said grooves upon successive operations oi' said slides, and the projections which position the uppermost compartment in registry with said opening cannot pass through said grooves, a. spider connecting the forward ends oi said slides and having a hub provided with a cam, and an operating cam carried by said casing and cooperating with said first mentionedcam for moving said slides. Y

l5. In an apparatus of the characterldescribed, a casing having a pivoted'forward cover, guideways on the sides of said casing, a vertically movable magazine in said casing, a slide controlling the movement of said magazine and adapted to receive said projections when said slide is moved forwardly, anc cam means lor operating said slide, said cam means comprising a plurality orV separable parts, one of said parts being carried by the slide and the other by said cover, said parts being in engagement when said cover is closed.

PENROSE R. HOOPES. FRITZ HESS. 

